N環球 
Calgary Small Business Awards Name 10 Local Winners From 335 Applicants
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of its 2026 Small Business Awards, honouring 10 local businesses across 10 categories from 335 applicants spanning energy, technology, health care and social entrepreneurship.
Why it matters
Small businesses make up 94 per cent of Calgary's business community and are a major source of the city's jobs and neighbourhood vitality. This annual list is effectively a roll call of the local economy — and this year's winners, from health tech and home care to accessible navigation, energy software and creative spaces, show local small business goes well beyond traditional trades.
The winners
Small Business of the Year: Ava Industries Ltd., a health-technology company whose physician-built, cloud-based electronic medical records platform now supports more than 8,500 health professionals and clinics across Alberta, B.C. and Ontario.
Emerging Growth: HomeFree Homecare, which pairs physician oversight with dedicated care teams to support people with complex medical needs at home; Inclusion: Pedesting Corporation, whose free app helps pedestrians find accessible routes, entrances, elevators and ramps.
Community Champion: Devon & Lang, a Calgary underwear brand that donates a pair with every purchase to organizations supporting people in vulnerable communities, aiming for more than 500,000 pairs over 10 years; Innovation: AbaData, which has spent more than 20 years connecting energy-industry field teams, engineers and analysts through software and GIS mapping tools.
Indigenous Entrepreneurship: 49 Native Design, founded by a member of the Kainai First Nation, blending Indigenous culture, storytelling and contemporary design in apparel and accessories; Social Entrepreneurship: cSPACE Projects, which gives Calgary's creative community hubs, studios and programming.
People's Choice: Audiology Innovations, serving Calgarians since 2005 with hearing assessments, hearing technology and personalized audiology care; Made in Calgary: AFTI Watchdog, whose WatchDog platform lets oil and gas operators monitor wellsites remotely, detect leaks and cut routine field trips.
Small Business Leader of the Year: April Hicke, founder and CEO of Toast Consulting, who works to connect women with technology careers through recruitment and community and to close gender equity gaps in the industry.
What the Chamber said
Calgary Chamber president and CEO Deborah Yedlin said the winners and runners-up showcase the changing nature of Calgary's small business ecosystem, spanning energy, technology, health care and successful social entrepreneurship. The Chamber noted this is the 43rd annual Small Business Awards Gala, part of its Small Business Week celebrations.
💬 Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!